Liverpool Under-23s coach Micahel Beale looks set for a move to Brazil where he could take a position as Sao Paulo's assistant manager, report the Liverpool Echo.

O Globo report that Rogerio Ceni has identified Beale as the man he wants to be his No 2 at the club where he has taken over as boss, with a deal likely as early as next week.

The paper reports that Beale has already travelled to Brazil and watched his new side with Ceni last Sunday in an under-20s tournament, although he was firmly on the Reds touchline at the iPro Stadium on Monday night where his team drew 0-0 with Derby.

A picture on Instagram appears to show Beale on the sideline with Ceni, 43, a goalkeeper who played 12 times for Brazil and spent most of his career with Sao Paulo. The men are believed to have met at the English FA course for coaches in Liverpool last September.

Ceni is a goalkeeping legend having scored more than 130 goals from free-kicks and penalties during his career.

While Beale would be regarded as a significant loss to the training ranks at Kirkby it could pave the way for the return of Steven Gerrard to the Reds, with a coaching role at Kirkby now vacant, although it is unlikely he would be given the under-23s to start with.

Steven Gerrard could be set for a return to Liverpool (Image: Getty)

Sao Paulo is Brazil's most populated city and the team finished 11th in their Serie A league last year, a drop from fourth the previous year. They play in a stadium which holds 67,052 fans.

Beale is a renowned expert on the technical side of the game and has written several coaching manuals.